Bead chain clasp for jewelry



July 14, 1953 M. J. MGFARLAND 2,644,992

BEAD CHAIN CLASP FOR JEWELRY Filed May 6, 1949 lwllw' 'M I Ins |06 sin 2 26a 23 IN VEN TOR.

Il AYATTHEW J. Mc FARLAND UML. Mul.; LLL

Patented July 14, 1953 UNrrEDI STATES PATENT OFFICE BEAD CHAIN cLAsP Eon JEWELRY rMatthew J. McFarland, Riverdale, N. Y. Application May s, 1949, serial No. 91,823

1 y i This invention relates to clasps kfor string jewelry,' and more particularly to yclaspsrlfor necklaces, bracelets and the like having a plurality of strings of ornamental objects such as pearls or beads.

In clasps heretofore suggested for holding multiple strands of string jewelry, it has been 2 claims. (0124-116) the usual practice to secure permanently and l separately each of the'strands with the aid of an end piece of special design which is attached to each extremity of eachstring. Such permanent anchoring or securing normally is accomplished by soldering or by bending metal gripping members more or less permanentlyv into place one of the strings of jewelry, it has been necessary in many instances to remove all of the strings and, of course, to replace same after such repairing or replacement.

One'of the objects of the present invention is 'l tc overcome the above difliculties or to'reduce same to insigniiicance. Y

The invention in lone aspect thereofcomprises a clasp having two half portions, one for each extremity of the necklace or bracelet, which portions can be detachably secured to one another in a conventional manner by means of a well known spring detent device which can be secured to one of said clasp portions for cooperation with the other. Each of the half portions of the clasp comprise a box-like member which is also referred to as a base member and which is provided with a plurality of preferably parallel slots, each of which is smaller in widththan the diameter of an end beador theL like which is to be passed under the slot into the box-like member for holding a string secured thereto in engagement with said member.` A suitable aperture is formed in the box-like member adjacent the extremity of each slot, through which aperture such bead can be passed, such apertures preferably being located near the margins of the box-like members which are adjacent one another when the clasp is in normal use. Said slots and apertures `are preferably formed on that side surface of each -box or base member which is nearest' the body of the wearer when in use' and such slots extend into the end surfaces of the base .member providing a generally serrated end surface having a plurality of slots equal in number, of course, to the number of o strings of jewelry` tobe attached thereto. Each base member is provided with a hinged cover` member having an end wall surface in which slots are formed and positioned for cooperating with the slots formed in the end surface of said base member. Thus when the hinged cover member is in a closed position, the above-mentioned apertures and portions of the connecting slots formed in said side surface are covered by the hinged cover'member, and the slots upon the end surface ofthe latter move into register with the slots on the en-d surface of the base member to accommodate the strings of jewelry secured therein and thus-to assist in holding the end bead in the desired position in the clasp. Suitable means may be provided for holding each cover member in closedrelationship to the base memberv comprising, for'y example, a metallic dimple in the cover which cooperates with a suitable recess kin the base.

The above and further objects and novel featuresrwill more fully appear from the detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.v It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended fas a definition of the limits of the invention,

reference for this latter 'purpose being had to the appendedclgaims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a multiple string necklace or bracelet secured to a clasp embodyring the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the clasp shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away vand with certain other parts omitted for purposes ofy clarity;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a half ofthe clasp shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 `is a planview of a modification of the portion embodiment of Figs. 1 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a plan View and a perspective View of a second embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a representation of one string or strand of jewelry lwhich is adapted for being held by the novel clasp.

Referring to the drawings lin further detail,

insertion in a well known way into a suitable opening I'I in the adjacent end surface of the clasp half IIlb. Secured to said-tongue portionv I4a is a spring member |41) having shoulders as at |4c which are adapted forcooperati-ng with a suitable slot formed in the margin ofthe opening I'I whereby the two clasp halves are detachably secured together. vThe shoulders I4c Ycan be lifted out of such slot by thrusting upwardly upon a finger `piece I 4d, as viewed-in Fig. 3.

lThe clasp halves Illa-and Ibfare substantially identical. The latter, Ib. will be described. lIt comprises a box-like base rmember I8 to .which there can be secured suitable ornamentation such as engraved precious metal or jewelry as at I9 and which is to be exposed Yto view when the clasp is in use. In order conveniently yand accessibly to secure a plurality of strings, such as II, I2 fand I3. -Qf jewels or -the like `to the clasp hah IDD, the vbase member I thereof is provided on a side wall or surface I8@ with a plurality of apertures 20,121 and ,22 and respectively in communication with lsaid lapertures are slots 23, 24 and 2 5 which extend to :anoutermost end wall or surface 2-6 of said Vbase fmember forming slots or notches 23a, .24a and 25a respectively therein. Of course,1it is possible for the slots '23, 24 and .25 to be sufliciently large to receive an end `ball o r ,anchoring member ofa string of jewelry.

-The above-described box-like member I8 is, in the form shown, hollow. The diameter -of the apertures 20, 2| -and`22 isadequate to permit the insertion of a suitable end bea-d or ball member as at 21 or some analogous means which can be so introduced in the aperture Yand thus moved into the box, whereupon such ball member with, for example, string II secured thereto,

can be moved down the slot 23 in to ,its `nal position as shown Fig. 2 -with-string II lextending from slot 23a.

The ball member 21 is Yalso referred vto as vany anchor member and, of course, can be -in any suitable shape for this purpose. Thus itheprincipal holding means for the strings of jewelry are the base members, as at I8, of each of the -clasp portions IIIa and HID. The base member for the clasp half I'Ua .is indicated at :28 in Fig. 3. When the necklace or Ibracelet is in use, the thrusts upon the strings II, I2 and I3 will, of course, tend tol hold the end balls in their desired positions as shown in Fig. l1. Such a holding of the strings is, under normal circumstances, adequate to prevent the disengagement of the strings from the clasp. However, novel means are provided for insuring that the strings of the jewelry Vare secured in place as in Fig. 1 comprising a hinged cover member 29 which is provided for the clasp portion lub, there being an analogous hinged cover portion 30 provided for clasp portion Illa. Hinged cover portion 29 is secured, for example, as at 28a by means vof a. suitable hinge pin which is provided o n each -body fof the wearer.

side of the cover member and preferably without extending all the way across the clasp half. In other words, there is a hinge pin as at 29a and this extends only through the adjacent surfaces of the cover member 29 and the base member I8, and a second hinge pin (not shown) is axially in alignment with pin 29a and extends through analogous portions on the opposite side o f the clasp half.

The cover member 30 is, of course, hinged to its base member in a manner analogous to cover member 29. Thus cover member 30 is adapted for angular motion to a position as shown in Fig. 3. In order to permit such angular motion,

a notch as at 30a is formed in the margin thereof adjacent the center line between the clasp halves `in order-to Vaccommodate the tongue portion |4a of the spring detent I4.

-A novel cooperative action occurs by virtue of the disposition of the hinged cover member 28,0n Fthe so-called under or body side of the clasp, that is, on the side which is adjacent the This arises by virtue of the longitudinal thrusts upon the strings II, I2 and I3 which tend to urge the base vmember I8 toward or against the hinged cover member 29. Consequently, any tendency for the hinged cover respective base members, a suitable detent can be provided, for example, of the so-called dimple type as indicated in Fig. 4 at 3| and .3| a,;theelement 31a comprising a suitable dimple which is adapted for engagement by small protuberance 3|, the latter being formed .in the cover member-28. lAn analogous detent arrangement can, of course, be provided for the other clasp half.

An `outermost'end surface 29h of the hinged cover member 29 is `provided with slots as at 29e, 29d and 29e which are positioned for moving -i-nto register `respectively with the slots 23a, 24a and 25a.

A modication of the embodiment of Figs. l-4 is shown in Fig. ,5, -there being illustrated only one clasp half 32 which issubstantially identical to that shown in Fig. 4 with Ithe exception of the vconformation 4,of the apertures. The modication of Fig. 5 vinstead vof having separate apertures as at 20, 2| and 22 has a common aperture as indicated generally at 33 or such common aperture can be c onsidered -to be made up of a :plurality of separate `but interconnecting apertures. The aperture .33, is generally oblong rather than circular and is in `communication with slots 34, 35 and 36. One 4of -the main benets for the common oblong aperture 33 is that it facilitates the mass production of necklaces and bracelets by virtue yof 'the fact that-it is somewhat easier tot install a plurality of strings Vof vjewelry in .this modification as compared to the `embodiment of Fig. 2 because of greater facility in introducing simultaneously a plurality of such strings and moving them in their final positions.

In one form .of the invention, vas shown in Fig. 3, the end wall surface 26 is rigidly secured However, it may be possible, inacof the clasp opening and releasing any of thel strings of jewelry.

It is not possible in the forms of the'invenu tion shown in Figs. l--f5 to regulate the distance between the strings of jewelry. Very often it becomes desirable toy situate the strings of ya multiple string necklace close to one another for one desired visual effect, and on another occasion to spread apart suchstrings so that there is a greater interval between adjacent strings whereby an entirely different visual effect may be obtained.

In the embodiment of Figs. 6 and?, it is possible to accomplish this result, for example, with a three strand or three string bracelet or necklace, and it is possible with one adjustment of the strings to dispose them relatively close to one another, and with a second adjustment thereof to spread them apart.

In the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7, only a single clasp half will be described, it being understood that the other clasp half is similar thereto with the exception of .the necessary structure for accommodating the spring detent I4 and the recess into which it isv inserted.

The multiple strands which may be installed in the clasp of Figs. 6 and 7 maybe spread apart relative to one another or moved close together, and can be so adjusted to preserve the symmetry of the arrangement of the strings. As shown in Fig. 7, a clasp half 31 is provided comprising.

a base member 38 and a hinged cover member 39. The base member 38 can be provided with an ornamental portion as at 40 which is analogous to the portion I9 (Fig. 4). The base member 38, moreover, is generally of the same conformation as the above-described base member I8 but instead of being provided with a plurality of individual slots, one for each of the strings, there is provided only a single aperture and communicating slot in a side surface `38a of the box member (Fig. 6), this aperture and slot being respectively indicated at 4l and 42. rlhe latter is in communication with a slot formed in an end surface 43 of the base member 38, it being, of course, possible to slide a plurality of strings of jewelry having suitable end balls thereon into the aperture 4| and thence through the slot 42 and into the slot 44 formed in the end surface 43. In order to assist in holding the strings of jewelry in preselected symmetrical locations, one of the margins of the slot 44 is notched or serrated, for example, to provide ve notches or serrations having, of course, live corresponding valley portions, as at 45, 46, 41, 48 and 49. The strings of jewelry are held in such valley portions by means of the cooperating hinged cover member 39 which has formed in an end surface 39a thereof suitable serrations as at 50 having valley portions which are movable into close cooperative relationship with the respective valley portions of the serrations inthe slot 44. Thus when the cover member 3S has been closed and resiliently there held by means of a so-called dimple" detent, any strings of jewelry which are situated in the slot 44 are urged into the above-described valleys and there held by means of the cooperating valley.` portions of the serrations 50 formed in thecover member 39, "ff

It is readily 4seen that if 4the above-mentioned three strings of jewelry are-held'by the clasp half 31, they may be disposed with the'centralA string, of course, always in the central valley 4l and with the other two strings either in the valleys 46, 4B or 45, 49. By this means a symmetrical arrangementA of the strings is obtain-A able and two adjustments can ybe had of the lateral distance between said strings.

Another advantage of the embodiment of Fig.l

7 is found, for example, in the case Where ya plurality, such as five strings of jewelry, are grasped by the cooperating serrations and one of said strands breaks whereupon it becomes necessary to relocate the remaining strands in asymmetrical arrangement If, for example, a strand in vvalley 45 is broken and it'becomes necessary to relocate the remainder, this may be done easily merely by shifting those strings in the valleys 46 and 41 to the left one tooth, as viewed in Fig. 7. y

The above-described adjustment of the strings in order to secure symmetry therebetween when one is broken can be effected without removal of any of the strands from the clasp half, thereby diminishing the .danger of dropping one `of the strands and breaking same. Moreover, such adjustment can be made easily by the wearer by merely lifting the hinged cover member 39 and shifting the strands as above suggested. Of course, an analogous adjustment must be lmade with respect to the other cooperating clasp half (not shown). y n

While the invention has been described with respect to certain preferred examples whichfhave given satisfactory results, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modi- -fications may be made withoutA departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, and it is intended, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.V

What is claimed as new and is desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is: y

1. A clasp for a multiplicity of strings of beads and the like chain jewelry including: a clasphalfportion constituted by a box-likebase member having a side wall and an end wall, there being formed in said side wall a relatively enlarged aperture having in communication therewith a slot which extends into said end wall and is in communication with another slot formed insaid end wall, the latter slot being provided with a plurality of serrations along one edge thereof; a cover member hingedly secured to said box-like member and having an end wall positioned for moving into proximity with the end wall of said box-like member and being provided also with a like plurality of serrations, ythe valley portions of the serrations in the cover member and in the base member being positioned for moving into lstring accommodating relationship wherein each valley portion of the; serrations of said cover membery is closely adjacent and oppositeto a corresponding valley portion in said base member when said clasp half portion is closed.

2. A clasp half-portion for use with one or a plurality of strings of bead or the like chain jewelry, `each string having end holding means,

including in combination: a box-like base member having a side wall and an end wall, there being formed in said side wall an aperture of preselected size for receiving the end holding means, said aperture having in communication therewith a slot formed in said side wall which extends into said -end wall, said slot having a width smaller than the maximum dimension of the end holding means, said end wall having another slot formed therein in communication with said first-mentioned slot, said other slot being provided with a plurality of serrations along one edge thereof whereby said serrations are in communication with one another via said last-mentioned slot; and a cover member` hinged- 1y secured to said base member and having an -end wall positioned for moving into proximity with the end wall of said base member and being provided also with a like plurality of serrations, each valley portion of said cover member serrations being movable to a position closely adjacent and opposite to a corresponding valley portion of the serrations in said base member,

the width of the slot in said end wan being less than the .maximum dimension of the end holding means.

MATTHEW J. MCFARLAND.

References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,425,336 Prevot Aug. 8, 1922 1,578,940 Wacha. v Mar. 30, 1926 1,724,835 Goodridge Aug. 13, 1929 1,776,892 Domler Sept. 30, 1930 15 2,031,110 King Feb. 18, 1936 2,044,869 Alkin June 23, 1936 2,047,432 Roedelheimer July 14, 1936 2,051,591 vBrogan Aug. 18, 1936 2,119,436 Lauff May 31, 1938 20 2,133,901 Mestekin Oct. 18, 1938 2,440,012 Haver Apr. 20, 1948 

